Top 25 Saturday College Basketball: Predictions for Kentucky vs. Tennessee

Weekend Highlights in College Basketball

The college basketball calendar’s most sought-after weekend is here, showcasing 18 teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, a standout fixture expected to make history. 

Top-10 Matchups

The day’s first top-10 clash begins in Lawrence, Kansas, with the No. 8 Jayhawks welcoming No. 4 Houston. The Cougars are experiencing their debut Big 12 season, marking their inaugural conference duel against the Jayhawks. 

Next, No. 7 Duke takes on a familiar rival, No. 3 North Carolina, at Chapel Hill. This will be the 49th time both programs are ranked in the top 10 for their matchup. 

The evening concludes with an SEC showdown as No. 10 Kentucky hosts No. 5 Tennessee at Rupp Arena. With both teams recovering from losses against unranked opponents, this match could significantly influence the conference championship.

Defending Champions in Action

The reigning national champion UConn, currently ranked No. 1, faces a challenging road game at Madison Square Garden against St. John’s coached by Rick Pitino. UConn is on a nine-game winning streak in the Big East after losing to Seton Hall in the conference opener on Dec. 20.

Odds via SportsLine consensus | All times Eastern

Most Anticipated Matchups

6:30 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) — The North Carolina-Duke rivalry is among the best in sports. With both teams ranked in the top 10, the stakes are sky-high for this matchup. After North Carolina’s first conference loss to Georgia Tech earlier this week, Duke has a chance to reassert itself in the ACC title race with a road win. The star-studded line-up sets the stage for a thrilling finish. Prediction: Duke +4

8:30 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) — This game was tipped to be the highlight until both teams stumbled with midweek losses to unranked opponents. Tennessee lost at home to South Carolina, while Kentucky went down in overtime to Florida at Rupp Arena. Despite the setbacks, this game’s outcome could swing the SEC championship. Kentucky needs to mitigate its weak defense to stop Tennessee star guard Dalton Knecht from another high-scoring game. Another subplot to watch is Kentucky’s health. Prediction: Tennessee -1.5

Noon | Fox, fuboTV (Try for free) — St. John’s is close to sealing a signature win under coach Rick Pitino. However, they face the formidable challenge of the top-ranked UConn. Despite the odds, St. John’s is due for a win. Prediction: UConn -4.5

Teams on the Edge

1 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) —  Memphis, previously in the polls top 10, faces the threat of missing the NCAA Tournament unless fortunes change quickly. After their fourth consecutive loss to Rice, Memphis has a chance to bounce back at home against Wichita State, currently tied for last place in the AAC. Prediction: Memphis -10.5

4 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) — Kansas is in a precarious position with star guard Kevin McCullar Jr. nursing a bone bruise. This puts freshman Elmarko Jackson back in the starting lineup. Houston, fresh from a close win over Texas, aims to win the Big 12 in its inaugural season in the conference. Prediction: Kansas +5

Check all college basketball game predictions at SportsLine, from a model that simulates each game 10,000 times and is up more than $1,200 for $100 players on its top-rated spread picks over the past six years.